Latest update March 26th, 2026 7:55 AM
‘Criminal and Predatory’ – Home Affairs Minister slams senior cops of preying on junior ranks
(Kaieteur News) – Home Affairs Minister Oniedge Walrond has issued a stern warning to senior ranks within the disciplined services: sexual involvement with subordinate officers is a criminal act and will be met with zero tolerance.
Speaking on Monday at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre following the swearing-in of Members of Parliament, Minister Walrond underscored that the Sexual Offences Act explicitly prohibits senior officers from exploiting power imbalances to pursue sexual relationships with junior ranks.
Home Affairs Minister Oniedge Walrond
“The sexual Offences Act says that a woman, especially a young woman, cannot be said to have consented to a sexual relationship if it’s a position of power. If they are calling it a relationship, it says the consent element does not exist if you are in a position of power. Similarly, it is when a person has an inappropriate relationship with a minor because of her young and tender age, that element of consent cannot be considered. It’s the same way with the power dynamic,” Walrond asserted.
She was at the time addressing reports that images circulating on social media showed a Deputy Commissioner having sexual relations with a junior female rank. Noting that she is not aware of the incident involving the deputy commissioner and the junior rank, Walrond said while she is not aware of the details of the matter, there is zero tolerance for such behaviour.
The Home Affairs Minister noted that: “It is criminal behaviour for a person in authority and power to engage in sexual behaviour with a subordinate officer, and we have a zero tolerance policy for those who engage in such crimes.”
She continued, “From the first day arriving in this portfolio, I have made it clear that those kinds of allegations against police, male police officers, especially when they are senior, a much higher standard is required of them, that they will be treated with a zero-tolerance approach. I have had this conversation already with the commissioner. Wherever these allegations will arise, especially as they relate to subordinate female officers, they will be dealt with very, very seriously.”
According to the minister, there are several instances where officers have been disciplined for their inappropriate behaviour. “Those officers who do this, their cases are with the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) and they are being removed. Immediately, as the report came to our attention, they were dealt with.”
She stressed, nevertheless, that the occurrences should not deter young people, particularly women, from joining the military forces. “They should be reassured that the powers that be will deal very strongly with any report of sexual misconduct. And if they are in a position where they are being victimised sexually, they should be able to report it, and mechanisms are in place to make sure that these more senior officers are dealt with.”
The minister emphasised that the incidence of sexual misconduct within the police force is not the norm. “We want them to know that these instances are not the norm, but when they happen, they are dealt with strongly. These instances should not prevent our females from coming out and speaking up if it happens, knowing what their rights are and knowing that we have an administration that will defend and protect our young women,” she stressed.
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